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UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, 1958
Dr. John T. Caldwell, President
One reason given by the Commencement committee for making this address my
responsibility is that it is the only occasion on which some of the graduates
ever will hear the President of the University! That is probably true, but no
schocking loss to the student would occur if the record stayed clear.
It reminds me of the story of a President of a small college who despite
the size was consitutionally unable to remember student and faces. Urged to
unbend a but and give at least the appearance of interest in them he made pro-
digious efforts, with some unfourtunate results.
"And how is your father?" he asked of one face on campus.
"Oh, sir, he's dead."
Getting over that one somehow, a week later he made the same inquiry with
the same voice replying, "Oh, sir,he's still dead."
I have already been reading some of the current commencement oratory as
reported in the press. It reminds me of some of my own in the past.
I hope you know how difficult it is to think of something to say to you on
this large occassion which is worth your time. Knowing first-hand the pitfalls,
I have determined to reduce them as much as possible by speaking briefly. By
doing so, I suspect you will be grateful quite regardless of the content of
what is said, and , further, there is a better chance that I will have less of
my own inadequacy to reflect upon.
So what I say will at least be short, simple, and sincere.
It will also be pure unadulterated, but unashamed, sentiment.
Not quite the same degree of sentiment as is expressed in the old ballad
by Barbara Allen:

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, 1958
Dr. John T. Caldwell, President
One reason given by the Commencement committee for making this address my
responsibility is that it is the only occasion on which some of the graduates
ever will hear the President of the University! That is probably true, but no
schocking loss to the student would occur if the record stayed clear.
It reminds me of the story of a President of a small college who despite
the size was consitutionally unable to remember student and faces. Urged to
unbend a but and give at least the appearance of interest in them he made pro-
digious efforts, with some unfourtunate results.
"And how is your father?" he asked of one face on campus.
"Oh, sir, he's dead."
Getting over that one somehow, a week later he made the same inquiry with
the same voice replying, "Oh, sir,he's still dead."
I have already been reading some of the current commencement oratory as
reported in the press. It reminds me of some of my own in the past.
I hope you know how difficult it is to think of something to say to you on
this large occassion which is worth your time. Knowing first-hand the pitfalls,
I have determined to reduce them as much as possible by speaking briefly. By
doing so, I suspect you will be grateful quite regardless of the content of
what is said, and , further, there is a better chance that I will have less of
my own inadequacy to reflect upon.
So what I say will at least be short, simple, and sincere.
It will also be pure unadulterated, but unashamed, sentiment.
Not quite the same degree of sentiment as is expressed in the old ballad
by Barbara Allen:

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Digital Publisher

University of Arkansas Libraries

Series Title

Land of (Unequal) Opportunity: Documenting the Civil Rights Struggle in Arkansas